Ok, what's going on? Creative announced Sound BlasterX AE-5 mid June 2017 for release at the end of July 2017. Checking shops and none has them in stock. They list it, but nthing available. This has to be the weirdest product launch I've seen in a while. It even beats AMD's Vega release... or am I really the only weird dude with such huge interest in good audio?
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Where is Sound BlasterX AE-5 ?!?!?!
- Thread starter RejZoR
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brandonwh64
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TheLostSwede
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And here I thought you wanted it for the RGB features...
Seems like it's only available for pre-order in Europe so far https://geizhals.eu/creative-sound-blasterx-ae-5-70sb174000000-a1658641.html
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Just buy an X-Fi Titanium PCI-E card. Is still the best card ever released by Creative since still got the support for analog 7.1. I have a 5.1 plus 2 separate stereo speakers and the sound is perfect in movies/games.
And, yes, is only 40$ :
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E25KDK/?tag=tec06d-20
And, yes, is only 40$ :
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E25KDK/?tag=tec06d-20
qubit
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I'll second that. Got two of them. Amazing quality audio.
I'm sticking with Core3D chip. It's way less problematic than X-Fi. I want AE-5 specifically.
qubit
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For the record, despite all the driver problems I've read about over the years, I've hardly ever had problems myself and this is over several PCs and Windows installs of different versions, so you'll most likely be ok.
I've had X-Fi. While it wasn't specifically problematic, I've had exactly ZERO issues with Core3D. And I've had SB Z since day 1 as well.
qubit
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I'm not familiar with Core3D, but I've had an SB Z and gave it back. While the hardware sounded great, it didn't have the audio processing features of the X-FI. In particular, the all-important bass and treble controls from the control software were missing, being replaced with a really cruddy graphic equalizer.
It's been a while since I had X-Fi, but possible. I control all the audio via EQ now.
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Sabre 32 DAC onboard? I'm almost sold.
I've tweaked my speakers, was hoping to have some fun with this Sound BlasterX AE-5 while I'm waiting for RX Vega to become available just to see I can' tget either. Ugh. This has to be the lamest Creative soundcard launch and it's by far one of the most interesting ones. I don't get it.
Apparently it's obtainable, but at least one shop has "Ordered on demand" with 1-2 weeks shipping time. So, I just ordered one AE-5. Lets see if it arrives in predicted time
I hope it's 1 week so I have time to play with it before I start fiddling with RX Vega...
Apparently it's obtainable, but at least one shop has "Ordered on demand" with 1-2 weeks shipping time. So, I just ordered one AE-5. Lets see if it arrives in predicted time
I hope it's 1 week so I have time to play with it before I start fiddling with RX Vega...
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I Never heard of it before your Post. But Now..... oh how i want it. Maybe I'll get one next paycheck. It looks sexy and tbh a soundcard is one of the components that stays in the system the longest. Together with PSU, case and fans most of the time.
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Newegg sells them and reviews are not great.
FreedomEclipse
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Probably problems with drivers again
Half of them are missing multichannel for optical out (why would you use optical connection on a 32bit 384kHz soundcard anyway?!) and other half seems to have IRQ problems. And I'm still waiting for shops to even get them here in Europe. Are they shipping them with freaking kayaks across the Atlantic? Geeez...
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RejZoR, what are you using for an equalizer?
https://rejzor.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/equalizer-settings-for-deep-bass/
https://rejzor.wordpress.com/2016/10/16/equalizer-settings-for-rich-sound/
I'm currently working on 3rd EQ profile, sort of upgrade of Delta Normal EQ Profile with various enhancements in between. Tested across many things and genres. It's very depth and vibrant sound focused.
https://rejzor.wordpress.com/2016/10/16/equalizer-settings-for-rich-sound/
I'm currently working on 3rd EQ profile, sort of upgrade of Delta Normal EQ Profile with various enhancements in between. Tested across many things and genres. It's very depth and vibrant sound focused.
Heh, I've canceled my original order. It was said to ship in 2 weeks and then extended to yesterday and today it was still nothing, so I requested order cancelation. The store wasn't complicating which was nice. I like buying there, it just didn't go through with this one. So I ordered it on Amazon immediately as they had actual stock. Hopefully it arrives early next week.
I really wonder how it'll sound. People post weird reviews on Amazon. A lot of them complain over volume fluctuation (which I know is caused by volume normalizer). The "tinny" audio is attributed to cranking Crystalizer too high (usually). Dunno, it just seems people don't know how to use it...
I really wonder how it'll sound. People post weird reviews on Amazon. A lot of them complain over volume fluctuation (which I know is caused by volume normalizer). The "tinny" audio is attributed to cranking Crystalizer too high (usually). Dunno, it just seems people don't know how to use it...
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This is why newegg and amazon reviews are pretty much useless outside of DOA type stuff. People are idiots.
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The issue with my x-fi Titanium (and my friend's after I gave it to him when I went to a SBZ) was that the flex-jack kept switching from microphone to line-in every time I shut the computer down. Not on restart, just on cold boots I would fire up teamspeak or vent and I'd have no mic. It got better and better with new drivers but it never really stopped occurring completely. Also, when I first switched to windows 8 it wouldn't save any settings unless you went and closed then opened the SB control panel as admin.
qubit
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That sounds like it would drive me to distraction.
It's quite possible that mine has the same problem, but since I never use the microphone function, I wouldn't know about it. I've only used it on W7 and W10 btw.Does it work properly now at least?
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He ran it for a few years and it was giving him fits cause he had a usb headset and it kept trying to switch between the 2 and he eventually got sick of it and took it out. Asked me if I wanted it back last time I saw him.
Oh for god sake, can I get the bloody AE-5 from freaking someone!? Jesus. First shop couldn't get it, so I had to cancel the order. Ordered it from Amazon on 24th because it said IN STOCK. It says "Shipping on 25th". It's almost midnight to a weekend and I very much doubt anyone will ship it today from UK. I can order anything else from Amazon and it'll ship in matter of hours. Now it's been almost 2 days and they didn't even prepare the damn thing. Is this like a Creative thing or what?
EDIT:
Just noticed in the review above that DSP is only capable of mixing up to 32bit and 96kHz. That's a bit of a bummer. I was actually suspecting it's not capable of full 32bit 384kHz through DSP. Meaning the actual utilization of full 384kHz output is solely limited to a Direct Playback of a source file at that frequency and nothing else. Not that it makes much difference if source is just 16bit 44.1kHz, but still, you'd expect Core3D to be able to process that either way. Which means it's not all that brilliant apparently...
EDIT:
Just noticed in the review above that DSP is only capable of mixing up to 32bit and 96kHz. That's a bit of a bummer. I was actually suspecting it's not capable of full 32bit 384kHz through DSP. Meaning the actual utilization of full 384kHz output is solely limited to a Direct Playback of a source file at that frequency and nothing else. Not that it makes much difference if source is just 16bit 44.1kHz, but still, you'd expect Core3D to be able to process that either way. Which means it's not all that brilliant apparently...
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